Module 13: Carnival at Candlelight

Book Summary: Annie and Jack are yet again called on by Merlin, through is helpers Teddy and Kathleen, to go on a mission. This time they are going to Venice to save the city from a terrible flood. Armed with their research guide and a book of magic rhymes, they arrive in historic Venice during the carnival. They must solve the clues before time runs out to save the beautiful city.

APA Reference of Book: Osborne, M. P. (2005). Carnival at Candlelight. New York: Random House.

Impressions: This was a cute story that included a lot of information about the city of Venice as well as famous artists and different mythology. I think that this book has enough action to keep young readers interested without getting confused. However, readers over the age of eight or nine might be a little bored with the simplified story telling and plot. To an older reader, Jack and Annie really have to do very little to save Venice. They walk around the city a bit and have some mishaps, but once they solve the riddle and get to the lion it is just a matter of flying out to ask Neptune to stop the storm. I also couldn't help but be amused that everyone Jack and Annie encountered, whether it be Venetians or Roman gods or living statuary, spoke English and were totally able to help. With that being said, I don't think that type of detail will be of any matter to a young reader who is more likely to be caught up int eh action, magic, and mystery. 
 
Professional Review: “Characterization is sketchy and older children will find the plot predictable, but readers just past the easy-to-read stage will find it satisfying. It should attract those who devour Ruth Chew’s books”.

Sherman, L. L. (1992). Review: Magic Tree House. School Library Journal. 38(9), p. 70. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/

Library Uses: I think that the entire Magic Treehouse series has multiple uses since they span so many topics. Because of that, you can attract a lot of different readers with varying interests or tie the books into different programs according to theme. Personally, I would like to make some sort of treehouse style display to show off the our library's collection and get more people interested in the story. I know I find myself recommending these books to parents and children alike because of the educational value that can be gleaned from them.

Module 12: Me Jane

Book Summary: This book tells the story of a young Jane Goodall and her stuffed chimpanzee, Jubilee. Jane enjoys play with Jubilee and exploring the outdoors. She finds a fascination with the natural world and dreams of one day getting to study chimpanzees in the wild.

APA Reference of Book:McDonnell, P. (2011). Me... Jane. New York: Little, Brown. 

Impressions: I very much enjoyed this book. The text is very simple and the drawings are beautiful. It is easy enough for young children to understand but still enjoyable for adults who will appreciate the art. I particularly liked the style of the book. It is laid out with the illustration on one side with smudged looking edges and the text on the other. The text pages have lightly drawn images decorating them that are very pretty. It makes the whole thing look more like a scrapbook of Jane's childhood.
 
Professional Review:
Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nests and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan’s Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does. With the story’s last page turn, the illustrations change from ink-and-watercolor scenes of Jane as a child, toting Jubilee, to a color photo of Jane Goodall as a young woman in Africa, extending her hand to a chimpanzee. Quietly told and expressively illustrated, the story of the child as a budding naturalist is charming on its own, but the photo on the last page opens it up through a well-chosen image that illuminates the connections between childhood dreams and adult reality. On two appended pages, “About Jane Goodall” describes her work, while “A Message from Jane” invites others to get involved. This remarkable picture book is one of the few that speaks, in a meaningful way, to all ages.
— Carolyn Phelan

 Phelan, C. (2011).  Me Jane  [Review of the book Me Jane? by P. McDonnell].  Booklist.  Retrieved from www.booklistonline.com




Library Uses: This would be nice to use along with programming about ecology, monkeys, or about Goodall herself to help children become more familiar with preservation and research efforts and how they might get involved.

Module 11: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Book Summary:This book shows how a variety of animals use their eyes, ears, noses, tails, and feet and provides information on each type of animal.


APA Reference of Book:Jenkins, S., & Page, R. (2003). What do you do with a tail like this?. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Impressions:This book is a very interesting way to present educational information to children so that is is fun. I enjoyed looking at all the body parts and guessing who they belonged to. While some were easy, I even learned a few things from the book. I did not recognize the mole's nose and I had no idea that a cricket hears with its knees. The illustrations are creative yet still realistic. I also liked that there is further information on each animal at the back of the book. I think this would be especially useful to teachers.
 
Professional Review:Not only does Jenkins again display a genius for creating paper-collage wildlife portraits with astonishingly realistic skin, fur and feathers, but here on alternate spreads he zooms in for equally lifelike close-ups of ears, eyes, noses, mouths, feet and tails.  Visual surprises abound.  Capped by a systematic appendix furnishing more, and often arresting details–this array of wide eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and open mouths of their own.

(2003).  What do you do with a tail like this?  [Review of the book What do you do with a tail like this? by S. Jenkins].  Kirkus Reviews 71(2), 142.  Retrieved from www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses: I saw a sample activity where you read the book and then have children create an animal that is a combination of many different body parts. Such as something with rabbit ears, a monkey tail, mole nose, and then they have to explain where their imaginary animals lives and how each of these parts help it to get by.

Module 10: Pink and Say

Book Summary: During the Civil War, an injured white soldier, Say, is rescued by a black union soldier, Pink. He takes Say home to his mother's house to recover from his wound. While they are there, they form a friendship. when the pair decides to return to their respective units, they are taken as prisoners of war and sent to Andersonville prison by confederate marauders.

APA Reference of Book:Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and Say. New York: Philomel Books.

Impressions: Although this is a picture book, the content is more advanced that the average picture book. The writing is very rich and gives a great sense of the dialect of the men. The book is soaked in history and gives a nice feel for the time period and the war without overloading the reader. The story is very touching and is made even more so when you learn that is is based of of the experience of Polacco's ancestor who fought in the war.
 
Professional Review: Gr 4 Up-This picture book set during the Civil War is a departure for Polacco in terms of content and audience. It is certainly the deepest and most serious book she has done. Sheldon Curtis, 15, a white boy, lies badly wounded in a field in Georgia when Pinkus Aylee, an African American Union soldier about Sheldon's age, finds him and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. Sheldon, known as Say, is nursed back to health in her nurturing care. But then she is killed by marauders, and the boys return to their units. They are then are captured and taken to Andersonville, where Pink is hanged within hours of their capture. One of the most touching moments is when Pink reads aloud from the Bible to Moe Moe and Say. Say tells them that he can't read, but then he offers something he's very proud of: he once shook Abraham Lincoln's hand. This is a central image in the story, and is what ties the boys together for a final time, as Pink cries, "`Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.'" The picture of their clasped hands, with the hands of the soldiers wrenching them apart, is exceptionally moving. Polacco's artwork, in fact, has never been better. She uses dramatic perspectives, dynamic compositions, and faces full of emotion to carry her powerful tale. History comes to life in this remarkable book.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Persson, L. (1994, October). [Review of the book Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco]. School Library Journal via Titlewave. Retrieved by http://titlewave.com/search?SID=81c425509376dc539b5dcf4c454190aa

Library Uses: This would work well for older students as a part of a Civil War unit or program. The story mentions several pieces of history that could be explored further such as Andersonville and marauders. You could also tie it in with Black History Month and have the children learn more about black soldiers during the Civil War. For children who are old enough, it could be tied to the movies Andersonville or Glory.

Module 9: Where's the Big Bad Wolf

 Book Summary: Detective Doggedly is always trying to catch the Big Bad Wolf in the act of terrorizing the three little pigs. When the wolf is in the hospital with the flu, there is still someone huffing and puffing at the pig's house. There is also a new sheep in town giving the pigs some bad advice about how to build their homes. Finally, Doggedly figures out it is just the wolf in sheep's clothing causing problems.

APA Reference of Book:Christelow, E. (2002). Where's the big bad wolf?. New York: Clarion Books.

Impressions: I really liked the language of this book, it had a lot of personality which made this a fun read. As an adult, I was easily able to recognize the wolf in sheep's clothing so there wasn't much mystery but children would most likely enjoy it more. I didn't really like that the illustrations were done with dialogue bubbles in them. I kept jumping back and forth between the text and the the speech bubbles thinking it would provide additional information, but as far as I could tell, it did not. I understood why the illustrator had done it but I would have preferred either text or dialogue bubbles, not both.

 
Professional Review:

Three little pigs get some real bad advice from a wolf in a real goofy sheep disguise in this comical whodunit. The three little pigs are having their homes blown down—and escaping by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins—and Detective Doggedly believes it might be the work of the shiftless, no-account neighborhood wolf, the infamous BBW. But the only character found at the crime scenes is a newcomer to town: Esmeralda the sheep. Sure, kids will note, Esmeralda their foot, for her disguise is pretty transparent. She has also been giving the pigs construction ideas: straw is good, twigs are good, and cardboard’s not bad. Two cows suggest a brick house, which foils the wolf and ends in his unveiling and incarceration. Short-term incarceration, that is, as he’s soon back, this time tricked out as a horse, with more self-serving recommendations: “Pick peas after midnight, when everybody is asleep. They’ll taste sweeter.” So what if there are a few inexplicables here—How did the wolf con his way into that hospital bed?—this is good clownish fun, and the rough-and-tumble art keeps the farce bubbling. (Picture book. 4-7)

[Review of the book Where’s the big bad wolf? by E. Christelow]. (2002, July 15). Kirkus Reviews, 70(14), 1028. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses: This would be used for an early childhood mystery program where the children have to come and solve a mystery or scavenger hunt that solves the mystery.

Module 8: Hunger Games

Book Summary:North America is gone and in it's place lies the nation of Panem, twelve outlying districts controlled by the Capitol. The Capitol keeps the districts oppressed each year by forcing them all to send two teens between the ages of twelve and eighteen to fight to the death in the Hunger Games. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to compete in order to save her younger sister, Prim, from this fate. Her skill with a bow and arrow and alliances with other tributes could make her the winner.

APA Reference of Book:Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press.

Impressions: I didn't love Hunger Games as much as many people did. I thought the book was entertaining but I actually expected more shock value. I thought that the way that most of the deaths were handled made them very anonymous and thus it didn't really affect me. It was scenes of Katniss looking for water and sleeping in trees and then "Oh 10 people died today". I know some people felt that the victims being faceless made it even more tragic, but it did not strike me that way. However, I do find this to totally be worth reading and, as a whole, the trilogy is very strong. In my opinion, Catching Fire was a stronger book because you developed more of a relationship with the characters. Also, for as much as the love triangle from these books is discussed, its barely present in Hunger Games. Gale is no where around for 95% of the book and, although Katniss interacts with Peeta, it is all very forced. Their relationship builds much more genuinely in book two.
 

Professional Review: Gr 7 Up-- In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 14 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like "Survivor" and "American Gladiator." Book one of a planned trilogy.

Baird, J. (2008). The hunger games. School Library Journal, 54(9), 176-177. 

Library Uses:I think this book is engaging enough that it could be used to help encourage reluctant teen readers to get interested in other books. Specifically, some of the other YA dyspotian novels like Divergent and Insurgent. Teens who like Hunger Games might also like Graceling.

Module 7: Ivy + Bean

 Book Summary: In spite of their mother's urgings, Ivy and Bean had no plans to become friends: they were just too different. However, when bean needs help hiding from her big sister, Ivy steps in. The duo sets off on an adventure to cast a spell on Bean's sister and forges a friendship along the way.

APA Reference of Book:Barrows, A., & Blackall, S. (2006). Ivy + Bean. San Francisco, Calif.: Chronicle Books.

Impressions: This is an adorable with a charming story and quirky drawings that is perfect for young and reluctant readers. The illustrations do a nice job of aiding in the story telling so that children who might struggle with the text can look to them for clarification. I very much enjoyed reading this book and I would definitely recommend it for young girls, especially since it is a series. I would easily draw the reader in and make them want to continue reading the next book.
 
Professional Review:  Seven-year-old Bean likes stomping in puddles, climbing fences into neighbors' backyards, and playing tricks on her older sister, Nancy. She wears dresses as seldom as possible and avoids big books. Her new neighbor appears to be a quiet, orderly girl who sits on her front step day after day reading tomes. The two seem to have nothing in common, and Bean is not interested in getting to know Ivy, despite her mother's prodding to make friends with the nice girl next door. Then Bean gets into trouble, and Ivy helps her out. She discovers that Ivy is practicing to be a witch, and when they decide to cast a spell on Nancy, their friendship is sealed. With echoes of Beverly Cleary's "Ramona" series, this easy chapter book will appeal to children who are graduating from beginning readers. The occasional black-and-white illustrations highlight the text and provide visual clues. The characters are appealing, the friendship is well portrayed, and the pranks and adventures are very much on grade level.

Stone, E. (2006). [Review of the book Ivy and Bean, by A. Barrows and S. Blackall]. School Library Journal, 52(7), 68. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses: I think this would be the perfect book to recommend for first or second graders who are not yet interested in reading. it would probably work well for a book talk at a school setting or for children who have come into the library looking for suggestions.